Kerry E. Hannon

Once you get that job you are seeking after 50, you need to negotiate the terms. Negotiations are best when both parties work toward an arrangement that’s mutually beneficial. Don’t approach negotiations with a hiring manager as an adversarial relationship. Follow these suggestions instead: Wait. Let the hiring manager offer you an amount, and then take a day or two to consider.

Finding a job when you’re over 50 is a lot like finding a job when you’re under 50. You need to tailor your resume and cover letter to the organization and the position, network to gather information and spot any inside tracks to the jobs you want, look and feel your best during job interviews and other meet-and-greets, and hone your negotiating skills so you get more of what you want.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. When you reach your 50’s, you may decide it’s time to relaunch a career that was placed on hold earlier in life. Many women (and increasingly men) decide to step out of the workforce to stay home and raise their kids or care for a relative. A decade hence, when they want to return to the workforce, they often discover that doors aren’t swinging open.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. To get the job you want after 50, you need to be fully prepared for the interview. When asked about salary in an interview, the best response is to say that although the position is not precisely the same as your last job, you would need to understand your duties and responsibilities in order to establish a fair salary for the job.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. If you want to get a job after 50, you need to know what job skills you bring to the table. Job seekers often don’t know what they know or what skills they already have until they sit down and write a list. Make your own list, which will come in handy when revamping your résumé, filling out job applications, and preparing for interviews.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. You will need to develop your personal brand if you are seeking a job after 50.Your personal brand establishes you as a relevant, credible expert in the field and enables prospective employers and recruits to get to know a little bit about you and feel a personal connection long before they ever meet you.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Seeking a job after 50, you need to know what you are facing. When in an interview, you want to show the best possible you that you can. Here are some interviewing tips and tricks along with some cautionary words to steer you clear of potential pitfalls. Be observant.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. The cover letter is part of the dynamic duo that gets you past the first cut when applying for a job after 50, so spend some time writing a cover letter that catches the hiring manager’s eye. People who screen résumés get tired of reading the same old cover letter attached to hundreds of résumés that often looks something like this: Dear Sir or Madame; I am writing to submit my résumé for the position of Chief Cook and Bottle Washer at the Purple Valley Resort and Spa.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. It’s not always the easiest thing to get the job you want after 50. Working on contract gives you the flexibility to do what you love to do and in the time you want to do it. Social media offers a multitude of ways to put your name out there as an expert in your field.